U.S., Jan. 6 -- According to a recent report, an investigational combination drug for post-operative pain manufactured by Heron Therapeutics Inc. has helped alleviate pain intensity and the requirement for opioids significantly in a mid-stage study.
The medication, HTX-011, is a combination of a long-acting version of bupivacaine - an anesthetic (numbing medicine) that blocks the nerve impulses that send pain signals to your brain - with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (meloxicam). Compared to a placebo, the drug produced a statistically significant 36.6 percent reduction in pain through 96 hours following abdominoplasty, which is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to make the abdomen thinner and more firm.
A single administration of the new combination pain drug led to statistically significant cut down in pain between 24 and 48 hours, 48 and 72 hours, and 72 and 96 hours. In addition, there were considerable reductions in the need for opioid medication when treatment was done with the drug as compared to placebo.